Overview
- The 19-year-old victim, who was attacked in central Metz during the early hours of Saturday, May 30, was declared brain‑dead and died on Tuesday, June 2.
- Two men, aged 20 and 27, were placed under formal investigation (mis en examen) and held in pretrial detention after being referred to the parquet on Monday.
- Prosecutors opened an information judiciaire — a judge‑led inquiry — and upgraded the charge to aggravated attempted homicide following the death, a change that can alter possible penalties.
- Relatives and LGBT groups reported that the attack included homophobic insults and targeted violence, but the prosecutor said investigators have not yet gathered evidence to legally prove a homophobic motive.
- The case has prompted local demonstrations and drawn attention from anti‑homophobia organisations, and if investigators later establish a hate motive the suspects could face the maximum penalties under French law.